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Monday, December 10, 2012

My Autosomal DNA Test Results Included A Surprise!

On November 18th, 2012, I shared the the results that I received from Family Tree DNA for my Hadden Y-DNA test, including my Haplogroup. I have now received the results for my autosomal DNA test, called Family Finder by Family Tree DNA.Family Tree DNA states "Family Finder uses autosomal DNA (inherited from both the mother and father, four grandparents, eight great-grandparents, etc.) to provide you a breakdown of your ethnic percentages and connect you with relatives descended from any of your ancestral lines within approximately the last 5 generations." Autosomal DNA is from the 22 chromosome pairs beyond the gender determining X and Y chromosomes.The first thing I wanted to review was the breakdown of my ethnic percentages. Having a paternal ancestry firmly rooted in Scotland and a maternal ancestry similarly rooted in Ireland, I saw little room for surprises.My ethnic breakdown, by percentage, is 96.64% Western Europe (Orcadian), that is from the Orkney Islands, and 3.36% South Asia (Southeast Indian, North Indian). Huh? Where did that come from? The genealogy paper trails have led me to Ireland, Scotland (and from there to England) but nothing has suggested India but it seems like there might be an intriguing story somewhere in my ancestral past. The Orkney Island might also contain a great Viking warrior ancestry.Family Tree DNA has also provided me with a list of individuals who have also been tested and who share DNA segments, measured in centiMorgans (cM), with me. A quick review of the list and the ancestral surnames associated with each of the matches doesn't immediately reveal any 'hits' to me. There are a couple of individuals who may likely be cousins, second to fourth cousins, but I need to take a closer look at how we match up before I can really understand how I can best utilize this new information.

3 comments:

Hi I was interested to read your DNA results. The Orcadian ones are not totally unexpected but the North Indian ones are perhaps Celtic in origin as there was migration from NW Russia so I was told by people who studied human migration in E London through N India to the Indus basin where Asian and Arian blood would have been mixed. Some NW Indians have blue eyes, a friend's mother, a Patan from NW Frontier being one. Her skin was also white. Apparently the migration of the Celts continued on to Scotland and Ireland. A friend from the Isle of Lewis said that when he first heard Indian music the hairs on the back of his head stood on end as it was so much like Gaelic music and the chanting sound of the Gaelic hymns. All this is stuff I have picked up along the way and not part of a study but it is so difficult to piece human migration together as there isn't just one book about it. Your experience makes me want to get a similar DNA testing. There are so many people in our heritage and doubling every generation that it would be fascinating to find out as you have done.

Hi I was interested to read your DNA results. The Orcadian ones are not totally unexpected but the North Indian ones are perhaps Celtic in origin as there was migration from NW Russia so I was told by people who studied human migration in E London through N India to the Indus basin where Asian and Arian blood would have been mixed. Some NW Indians have blue eyes, a friend's mother, a Patan from NW Frontier being one. Her skin was also white. Apparently the migration of the Celts continued on to Scotland and Ireland. A friend from the Isle of Lewis said that when he first heard Indian music the hairs on the back of his head stood on end as it was so much like Gaelic music and the chanting sound of the Gaelic hymns. All this is stuff I have picked up along the way and not part of a study but it is so difficult to piece human migration together as there isn't just one book about it. Your experience makes me want to get a similar DNA testing. There are so many people in our heritage and doubling every generation that it would be fascinating to find out as you have done.